diff --git a/Lib/test/test_textwrap.py b/Lib/test/test_textwrap.py
index aca1f427656bb5..13289b5a491a2e 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_textwrap.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_textwrap.py
@@ -559,6 +559,20 @@ def test_placeholder(self):
                         placeholder=' [truncated]...')
         self.check_wrap(self.text, 80, [self.text], placeholder='.' * 1000)
 
+    def test_placeholder_not_needed_when_text_fits(self):
+        # With max_lines set, text that fits must be returned as is even when
+        # the placeholder would not fit in the width; the placeholder is only
+        # required when the text is actually truncated.
+        self.assertEqual(shorten('ab', width=4), 'ab')
+        self.assertEqual(shorten('a', width=1), 'a')
+        self.assertEqual(
+            wrap('hello world', width=20, max_lines=3,
+                 subsequent_indent=' ' * 17),
+            ['hello world'])
+        # Truncation that cannot place the placeholder still raises.
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            shorten('a very long text goes here', width=4)
+
     def test_placeholder_backtrack(self):
         # Test special case when max_lines insufficient, but what
         # would be last wrapped line so long the placeholder cannot
diff --git a/Lib/textwrap.py b/Lib/textwrap.py
index 2f213e34c2c329..9476656f3361b7 100644
--- a/Lib/textwrap.py
+++ b/Lib/textwrap.py
@@ -251,13 +251,6 @@ def _wrap_chunks(self, chunks):
         lines = []
         if self.width <= 0:
             raise ValueError("invalid width %r (must be > 0)" % self.width)
-        if self.max_lines is not None:
-            if self.max_lines > 1:
-                indent = self.subsequent_indent
-            else:
-                indent = self.initial_indent
-            if len(indent) + len(self.placeholder.lstrip()) > self.width:
-                raise ValueError("placeholder too large for max width")
 
         # Arrange in reverse order so items can be efficiently popped
         # from a stack of chucks.
@@ -333,6 +326,10 @@ def _wrap_chunks(self, chunks):
                                     self.width):
                                 lines[-1] = prev_line + self.placeholder
                                 break
+                        if (len(indent) + len(self.placeholder.lstrip())
+                                > self.width):
+                            raise ValueError(
+                                "placeholder too large for max width")
                         lines.append(indent + self.placeholder.lstrip())
                     break
 
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-10-21-23-20-22.gh-issue-160043.AlgGSI.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-10-21-23-20-22.gh-issue-160043.AlgGSI.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..10ba97651ef83b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2026-10-21-23-20-22.gh-issue-160043.AlgGSI.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+:func:`textwrap.shorten` and :func:`textwrap.wrap` with *max_lines* no longer
+raise :exc:`ValueError` for text that fits in *width* when the *placeholder* is
+wider than *width*.  The placeholder is only required when the text is actually
+truncated.